The Five Boroughs

New York City is made up of five boroughs: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island. Each one has enough attractions—and enough personality—to be a city all its own. Learn more about them with this guide.

The best things in life are free, especially when it comes to NYC's summer concerts. This May through August, you can hear live music of all kinds across the City without spending a dime. Whether it's punk on Governors Island, indie rock on the Williamsburg waterfront, a classy night outdoors with the Metropolitan Opera or diverse lineups including everything from jazz to world music at SummerStage and Celebrate Brooklyn!, New York City's gratis alfresco performances are sure to please music lovers of all tastes. Read on below for a breakdown of some of our favorite shows, as well as a full list of summer concert series and festivals. Enjoy, and rock on!

Don't mind paying for your live music? Click the graphic below for a full list of NYC concerts, both free and ticketed.

August 3–26Bronx Salsa Fest
"New York's 'Salsa Borough'" presents a month of programming including the "Hip Hop Generation Next Block Party," music performances at Orchard Beach and The Morrison Avenue Festival—a community celebration packed with food and music. For more info and a full calendar of events, visit bronxsalsafest.com.

August 16Gladys Knight and the Commodores at Coney Island
The soulful Gladys Knight took her talents in another direction this year, joining the cast of Dancing With the Stars. While the singer's fancy footwork didn't yield victory on the show, her vocal talents remain unimpeachable. Stop by the Coney Island waterfront to see her live, joined by funk and soul masters the Commodores—best known for their funky '70s hit “Brick House.” For more info, visit brooklynconcerts.com.

August 18 The Kills at Hudson River Park, Pier 63
It's free to see rock duo Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince perform selections from their four studio albums, but you need tickets. For more information, visit bowerypresents.com.

August 18Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings at Williamsburg Park
Despite her amazing pipes, Sharon Jones spent decades on the fringes of the music industry until a special group of Brooklyn musicians began to tease out her seemingly bottomless pool of talent and charisma. The band eventually became the Dap-Kings, and the label, Daptone Records, became an analogue-worshipping funk phenomenon. For more info, visit the Williamsburg Park Facebook page.

August 25–26Afro-Punk Festival at Commodore Barry Park
Head out to Commodore Barry Park and hear the likes of Erykah Badu, Gym Class Heroes, Spank Rock, Reggie Watts, Janelle Monae and Das Racist. This year's Afro-Punk Festival has been a long time coming—the 2011 edition was wiped out by Hurricane Irene. For more info, visit afropunk.com.

August 29Turbonegro at House of Vans
Norwegian punk-rockers Turbonegro formed in 1989. If you’re brave enough to see what “deathpunk” (what the band calls its signature style) is all about, head to House of Vans for this free show. For more info, visit vans.com.

September 7Bob Mould at Williamsburg Park
The influential Hüsker Dü rocker plays a free show during which he'll perform the now 20-year-old Sugar record Copper Blue in its entirety. Yep, you're getting old. For more info, visit facebook.com.